Weybridge 232-9 Esher 283-5 (Esher winning draw) FOR the second time this season Esher had their opponents nine wickets down blocking out the last few overs for a draw.

Esher batted first and openers James Knott and Matthew Bell put Esher in control with a high quality first wicket partnership of 184 before Bell fell for 82.

Knott was to follow soon after when he responded to the call from Rao for a quick single only to fall just short for an excellent 88 on his league debut for Esher.

Rajesh Rao was to take over the responsibility of making sure Esher got the large score they wanted by compiling a solid 50 not out.

Esher declared with the score on 283-5 off 64 overs. Matthew Church was the only Weybridge bowler to have any success with 3-79 off 17 overs.

This left a minimum of 62 overs for Weybridge to bat. Despite the big score and the track being good, Weybridge had a chance with their strong batting line up.

Esher were without opening bowler Baker and captain Derek Lane was unable to bowl due to a groin injury so the other bowlers had to join the party.

Adnan Saleem took a big share of the workload and did well taking 5-77 off 24 overs. Esher got off to the start they wanted when Saleem bowled Scott for just 5 runs but then a partnership of 84 between Joe Porter (30) and Tim Hodgson (94) put Weybridge in contention before Porter fell to a real sucker punch.

With Leg spinner Rao bowling with the long boundary on the leg side, Lane dropped mid wicket out on to the boundary and very obligingly Porter hit the very next ball straight down his throat.

This made it 99-2 from 24 overs and it was game on. Unfortunately, six overs were now to be lost due to a heavy downpour. This was to prove crucial later on.Now bowling with a very wet ball Esher’s spinners couldn't grip the ball so Lane had to rely on his two most accurate seamers Saleem and Knott to do the rest of the work.

They put in a great effort bowling through the last session and gradually reduced Weybridge to 227-9. Knott took 2-45 from 11 overs.

When Saleem took the ninth wicket there were three overs and five balls left to get the last man and take what would have been an excellent away win.

However, Notton and Ferris managed to block out for Weybridge.Esher suffered frustration again and ruing the six overs they lost due to rain.

Although Esher got the winning draw they were to have salt rubbed into the wound as they had two points docked for a slow over rate.